Use the web site linked below and the information on this page to answer the questions in the form. Warning: there's a lot of misinformation online on this topic. When in doubt, ask Mrs. Hooper.
Click submit when you are finished.
When you're finished, go to Day 3 or work on your book.
Books for children usually fall into one of the following genres. However, sometimes they can overlap too. For example, the Magic School Bus books are full of great, real information but Ms. Frizzle and her class go to real places in a magic bus. Is it informational or fantasy? You decide.
Genre
Characteristics
Examples
Folktales
Stories usually have passed along person to person. Usually have lesson that should be learned by the end of the story. Everything is very wise/foolish, very ugly/beautiful, very evil/good, etc. These can be fairy tales, fables, myths, legends, epics, pourquoi stories
Cinderella, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in Peoples Ears, Aesop's Fables, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Informational (nonfiction)
Books about totally true, real life events, people, or places. Many times real pictures will be used.
Biographies, books about any real thing.
Fantasy
Stories have supernatural or magic elements like talking animals, wizards, elves, etc.
Harry Potter series, Where the Wild Things Are
Science Fiction
Stories have fantastic science elements like aliens or super-smart robots.
The Giver
Realistic Fiction
Stories that could really happen. Characters should feel like people who could live next door; they should behave like real people and do real things.
Where the Red Fern Grows, Bridge to Terabithia
Historical Fiction
Stories with a historical setting. Characters should still behave like real people and live real lives.
My Brother Sam is Dead
Poetry
Anything in verse. This could a whole book of poems or one poem that runs throughout the book.
Where the Sidewalk Ends, Math Curse, Science Verse
Some Formats in Print
Format
Characteristics
Examples
Toy Books
Books with extra pieces and parts to them. Typically, the reader can interact with the book in ways other than by reading or looking at the pictures.
Pop-up books, books with pull tabs; the "ology" books are good examples.
Board Books
Short books printed on thick board. These books are usually for babies and very young children.
This could be almost book reprinted on thick board.
Picture Books
Books in which there is a mix of illustrations and text to tell a story. They do not have to be written exclusively for children. There are also wordless picture books, i.e. books in which the author has used art to tell the story. If text is used at all, it is very minimal.
Dr. Suess books, Where the Wild Things Are. Tuesday by David Weisner is a great wordless picture book.
Chapter Books
Books with short chapters of mostly text though there are typically some illustrations. These books are intended for readers who want/need a longer book but not ready for novels or long works of nonfiction.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.
Graphic Novel
Graphic novels are difficult to define. It's easier to say what they are not; they are not simply comics, picture books for grown ups, manga, etc. Graphic novelists use sequential art to convey a story. The author may or may not use text. Graphic novels can be written for any audience.
Genre and Format in Children's Books
Table of Contents
Task for Day 2
Information about Writing, Illustrating, and Publishing Children's Books: The Purple Crayon.
Genres
Books for children usually fall into one of the following genres. However, sometimes they can overlap too. For example, the Magic School Bus books are full of great, real information but Ms. Frizzle and her class go to real places in a magic bus. Is it informational or fantasy? You decide.Some Formats in Print
Questions to Answer